ANLONG over due, and not my best work. I am sorry about that. Like I've said in my other fics, I have been having computer problems and a bunch of other junk, so this kind of got pushed to the back burner. Sorry about that…besides, I know you all skip to the HPDM and SSNL parts anyway.

Beautiful Soul II

Hermione was dreaming, and she knew it. She was running after Ron through the maze-like halls of Hogwarts. Keeping up with him seemed impossible, and so she just kept calling his name. "A little farther, Mione," he called back to her.

"Hermione!" A new voice called from the other end of the hall.

When she turned, she saw Bill standing there with his hand out to her. Frantically, she looked back to Ron. Both voices were calling for her. The past and the present were waging a war within her. "I can't!" she cried dropping to her knees.

"Hermione!"

"Mione!"

"Hermione, wake up." A gentle hand shook her.

Sitting up straight in bed, she let out an involuntary shiver. It took her a moment to get a bearing on her surroundings, but she vaguely recognized Bill's London flat. They had gone there after leaving the school. "Did I wake you?" she asked.

Bill nodded. "You were talking in your sleep. What was it that you couldn't do?"

"Nothing," she said nervously. "We should go back to sleep."

He arched a skeptical brow at her, but said nothing. Nor did her try to pull her back to him when she moved away. Right now, she didn't feel right about being in his bed, but it was too late to do anything about it. Lying there, she felt like a traitor.

In the morning, she left Bill sleep as she crept out the door. Diagon Alley was in full motion despite the early hour. Witches and wizards strolled down the cobblestone street with a carefree air about them. It was different from what it had been during the war. Looking at them now, you'd swear that nothing had ever been wrong. People hadn't died. Voldemort hadn't almost destroyed everything.

She smiled as she noticed Fred and George's shop. It had been ages since she'd been in there. A bell tinkled as she opened the door, and she was greeted by one of the pair. These days, it was easy to tell them apart by the slight scar on George's cheek. Tragic accident, he'd told her. They had been testing some very hush, hush new product. She had been much too afraid to ask exactly what they had been testing.

"And what brings my new sister-in-law in today?" he asked with a smirk.

"I was already your sister-in-law, prat!" she snapped. She wasn't quite so sure why his remark stung so.

He shrugged. "So where is Bill?"

"Oh, he didn't want to come," she lied.

"All set for the celebration?"

"Celebration?" she asked nearly dropping the trick wand she'd been looking at.

"Mum has called us all together for the big news."

"But you already know!"

"Yeah, but she thinks you need a little more family support."

Hermione felt like she was drowning. Tears rose to her eyes unbidden, and she turned away to block them from his view. George looked stunned. "Sorry," she said softly.

"Is everything okay?"

"Things have just been a bit hectic. With it all, I'm wondering if I'm doing anything right at all."

George shook his head and handed her a tissue. When she looked at it skeptically, he assured her, "I promise I wouldn't do anything to you right now. Don't look for the same to be said for Saturday."

"Thank you," she said.

"Have you talked to Bill about what's bothering you?"

She shook her head.

"You should."

Hermione knew he was right. After wandering Diagon Alley for a bit more, she went back to Bill's. She found him sitting on the couch with a copy of the Prophet in his hands. "Feeling better?" he asked.

She shook her head. Starting from the beginning, she told him of all of her fears and nightmares. When she was finished, she looked to him for some sort of answer. His eyes were filled with sincerity as he spoke. "Don't you see what is wrong with that nightmare? I would never call you away from Ron, nor would his spirit ever want you to be alone. Hermione, I love you enough that if he were still alive, I would let you be happy. "

"I guess I just needed to hear that. This whole bloody month has been so confusing. I'm not sure what to think anymore," she said sinking into the couch next to him.

He frowned. "Getting married is a bad idea."

"No. Honestly, I want to. I just…"

Bill pulled her into a hug. "You need time. I'm willing to wait until things settle down. Don't think that you'll lose me if we don't jump into things."

In her heart, Hermione knew that he was right. She was so afraid to lose him that she had rushed into things. Looking back, she had so little time with Ron that it made her wary of taking things slowly. She bit her lip. "Thank you," she said softly. "I'm sorry, Bill. I really I am. I do love you, though. You believe that right?"

A smile crossed his handsome face. "Of course I do, and if I didn't I'd find a way to make you love me."

"That confident?"

He nodded, and began kissing her neck. His hands moved deftly down her body sending waves of pleasure through her. There was no doubt that he had every reason to be confident. "I want to spend the rest of my life doing this to you, Hermione, and I'm willing to earn it."

Her fears melted away completely as she was taken in by every move and every word he made. This was the perfect beginning to a new chapter in her life. For the first time, she realized that the past had only led her to this.